Hi everyone, I've hit a bit of a wall with my 300 and it's auto box. It won't shift up into 3rd when driving, 1st/2nd/reverse all work fine.

I've had it a gearbox repair place and they couldn't do anything with it as non of their plug in machines could read it and the same with an auto electrician that I took it to, however the gearbox place said that it needed about 3 litres of fluid to get it up to the correct level. They did say that when they took it out all the gears that worked were now shifting nicely but it wasn't even trying to shift up to 3rd and they suspected more electrical than mechanical but obviously not 100%. 

I'm sure someone here might be able to assist in getting me to a garage that know what they are doing with regards to this specific car because I'm ringing round but not finding anyone who even wants to have a look at it in the North East of England.

Does anyone have any suggestions where/who would be the best to help?

Thanks in advance

Dan

The z32 has a self diagnostic.

go to -  conceptperformance.com

Automatic Transmission Diagnostics

Or take it to PowerZed in Bristol 

I had 3 autoboxes fail on me- that’s why I now have a manual conversion 

In all honesty, if it won't shift past 2nd, the auto box is most probably finished.

They sometimes fail in different ways - I have heard some lose 2nd and 4th, whilst others fail after 1st and 2nd. Mine did the same as yours; I was cruising happily at motor-way speed when suddenly the 'box dropped to 2nd and would not change up.

You have three choices - fit a good, known 2nd hand auto 'box; have a specialist rebuild or get a manual conversion. It comes down to how much do you want to spend - and do you want to stay auto.

A full rebuild will cost you in the region of £1500-£2000. You keep it auto, and will no doubt get some kind of guarantee on the work.

But at that cost, if you were thinking of going manual at some point in the future, you might as well do it now. Assuming you can source the parts for a reasonable cost - and make sure you get someone who knows their stuff to do the work. If it were me, I would only take my Zed to Jimmer - even though he's in the Bath/Bristol area, there is no-one better. Budget around £2,500 all in....

But if you like the auto and would like to keep costs down, then you can take the chance on replacing your 'box with a good, well-known one. And I say, a good, well known one; not an E-bay purchase or the like. I did just that - a member on here had an auto 'box in very good condition following a manual conversion so I bought that and had Jimmer fit it. And for the record, Jimmer only fitted it, because he also knew that 'box was in good condition! Approx. cost around £500 - £750 all in, depending on what you pay for the 'box.

A couple of people have had manual conversions recently, so may still have their old auto 'box for sale...... Look in the for sale section on here, or post a wanted ad.

 

I am converting mine in October, if you would like to purchase my autobox that has 55k miles on it, just let me know.